Creating an Energy Efficient Home: Tips for Measuring Home Energy Use

Figuring out how much energy your home uses is the first step toward increasing its
energy efficiency. There are tools, services and tips for measuring home energy use. Keep
reading to learn more...

The Home Energy Yardstick at EnergyStar.gov

This tool from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assesses your home's
annual energy use in comparison to similar homes. To use it, you will
need to have on hand:

ZIP code (to pull in weather data for your area)

Square footage

Number of full-time occupants

List of different fuels used (electricity, natural gas, oil)

12 months of utility bills

Using this information, the
Home Energy Yardstick calculates a score for your home based on a scale of 1 to 10. A home that
scores a 10 used less energy over the 12-month period than similar homes,
according to the U.S. Department of Energy's Residential Energy Consumption
Survey. A home that scores a 1 uses more energy over that period than
similar homes.

The tool also offers insight into how much energy your home uses month
to month over the 12-month period, showing in graph form the differences,
and you get an estimate of your home's carbon emissions. With all
of this information, the tool offers tips on how to improve energy efficiency
and, therefore, your home's score.

Kill-A-Watt

This device accurately measures electricity usage by appliance, allowing
you to drill down further into your home's energy usage profile to
look for ways to improve efficiency. Simply place the device between the
appliance and the electrical outlet, and then check its LCD screen to
see how much energy the appliance uses on a daily, weekly, monthly and
annual basis. The
Kill-A-Watt displays usage by kilowatt-hour, the same measurement unit as your electricity company.

Knowing how many kilowatt-hours an appliance uses allows you to compare
it to energy efficient models and to decide whether or not to upgrade.
Those certified as Energy Star products include on the label the kilowatt-hours
per year the appliance uses. You can also use
Energy.gov's list of appliances and their typical wattages for comparison purposes.

Home Energy Audit

Determining which appliances use more energy than necessary and replacing
them proves easy enough for the average homeowner. You may want to consult
a professional to figure out all sources of energy inefficiency in the
home. In fact, EnergyStar.gov says the following: "The best way to
assess the root causes of high energy bills or uncomfortable spaces is
to have a home energy professional assess your home."

During a home energy audit, your
professional handyman will look at a variety of energy consumers, from the
light bulbs you use and
weather stripping in place to the actual
windows and
doors in your home.
Plumbing and
insulation also will be on the to-check list, as changes in these areas also can
help reduce the amount of energy your home uses. He or she will point
out areas of improvement and guide you toward a more energy efficient home.

Other EnergyStar.gov Info

When measuring the energy usage of your particular home, it also helps
to know how homes in general use energy for context. EnergyStar.gov estimates
that the average annual energy bill for a single home is approximately $2,200.

It also breaks down the energy usage by type. For example, heating uses
29 percent and cooling 17 percent on average. Water heating comes in at
14 percent, with large appliances such as a refrigerator, dishwasher,
clothes washer and dryer consuming 13 percent of energy used. Lighting
uses 12 percent. Electronics, such as computer and monitor and TV and
DVD player, takes up 4 percent. "Other," a category that includes
stoves, ovens, microwaves and small appliances such as coffee makers and
dehumidifiers, makes up the remaining 11 percent.

Mr. Handyman
can maintain your home to save you money. One call really does take care
of everything on your to-do list. Make sure to stay on top of all your
household repairs, improvements and maintenance needs and
request service
now online.
Repair. Improve. Maintain. One call does it all!